Gerd Aalborg Aas was named winner in the category Unsung Shero. She is head of logistics for Hydro’s Aluminium Metal commercial department, based in Oslo.

“I’m so humbled and proud. I will bring this award back to my team. They make my job fun and rewarding every day,” said Aalborg Aas from the stage at ALUMINIUM 2024 in Düsseldorf.

First awards

The ceremony was the first arranged at the international exhibition, under the motto "Women can do aluminium, too."

Product manager Yasmin Ouiriemmi of ALUMINIUM says the awards are meant to help promote equality and diversity in the aluminium industry, to recognize outstanding achievements by women and to strengthen their position in the sector.

Awards were given in five categories: Unsung Shero, Role Model, Sustainable & Innovative Leader, Young Leader, and Male Ally.

The award ceremony was held in partnership with Women With Metal, the UK Aluminium Federation and Aluminium International Today.

Four finalists

Gerd Aalborg Aas has spent 10 years in the aluminium industry, working in Hydro’s upstream aluminium business area. Colleagues say she is a woman who has a solution ready for every challenge, who keeps a cool head in a crisis, and who has a sympathetic ear.

“I believe in going after the opportunities that present themselves and making the most from them. One piece of advice I would give to other women is to take the risk. Believe in yourself. Be confident. Work smart. Don’t let the unconscious bias take away from the belief you have in yourself. Embrace the challenge and trust in your ability to achieve great things,” she says.

In addition to Gerd Aalborg Aas, Hydro’s other finalists were:

• Katrin Grampp, internal sales manager for Hydro Extrusion Offenburg in Germany, was a finalist in the category Unsung Shero.
• Lana Hebisch, sales director for Hydro Extrusion Deutschland in Germany, was a finalist in the category Young Leader.
• Leiv Erik Ødegaard, director of Hydro's recycling operations for Hydro Aluminium Metal in Spain, was a finalist in the category Male Ally.

Better gender balance by 2025

Hydro has stated its ambition to increase the gender balance in the company by reaching 25 percent female employees in permanent and temporary positions combined, and 25 percent women in leadership roles by 2025.

After announcing this target, the company asked all its business areas to develop roadmaps to deliver on the goal.

At the end of 2023, Hydro’s had improved slightly over the previous year, with women comprising 23 percent of the global workforce. The share of women in leadership positions was 20 percent at the end of last year.